Important Changes to Property Transactions from 1 July 2026: What You Need to Know

From 1 July 2026, significant changes to Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) legislation will come into effect, bringing the real estate industry into line with many other professional services.

At Umbrella Realty, we're committed to making these changes as simple and stress-free as possible for our clients. While there will be a few additional compliance steps, our focus remains on providing the same professional, personalised service you've come to expect.

Why Are These Changes Happening?

The Australian Government has expanded AML/CTF laws to help prevent money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious financial crimes.

As part of these reforms, real estate agencies, buyer's agents, settlement agents and other property professionals will be legally required to verify the identity of their clients and undertake certain due diligence before proceeding with property transactions.

These requirements apply nationwide and are mandatory for all agencies.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you're buying or selling property through Umbrella Realty after 1 July 2026, we'll need to complete some identity and compliance checks before your transaction can proceed.

These checks are required by law and apply to all clients, including those we've worked with for many years.

Depending on your circumstances, we may need to verify:

Your identity

The ownership structure of the entity purchasing or selling the property

Beneficial ownership information

In some cases, the source of funds or source of wealth involved in the transaction

We'll only request information that is relevant to your specific situation.

What Information May Be Required?

Individuals

If you're buying or selling as an individual, we may ask for:

A current Australian driver's licence or passport

Other government-issued photo identification if required

Companies

For company transactions, we may require:

Director identification

Company details

Beneficial ownership information

Trusts and Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs)

Where a trust or SMSF is involved, we may request:

Trust deed

Trustee identification

Relevant ASIC or ATO documentation

Supporting documents relating to the entity

Source of Funds

In certain circumstances, legislation requires us to obtain information regarding the source of funds or wealth being used in the transaction.

Keeping the Process Simple

We understand that buying or selling property already involves plenty of paperwork, and we don't want these new requirements to add unnecessary stress.

Our team will guide you through exactly what is required based on your individual circumstances. We'll explain each step clearly, answer any questions you have, and only request the documentation required under the legislation.

Our aim is to make the process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

Your Privacy Matters

Protecting your personal information is extremely important to us.

To ensure your documents are collected and stored securely, Umbrella Realty has partnered with AML Hub, a trusted compliance platform used by professionals across Australia and New Zealand.

Rather than emailing sensitive identification documents, you'll receive a secure link to upload your information directly into AML Hub's encrypted portal.

This means:

Your personal information remains protected.

Documents are not stored within our email systems.

Information is handled confidentially.

Your details are used solely to meet our legal compliance obligations.

We're Here to Help

These legislative changes represent an important step in strengthening Australia's financial integrity, and while they introduce some additional compliance requirements, they don't change our commitment to providing exceptional service.

If you're planning to buy, sell or invest in property after 1 July 2026, our team will guide you through every step of the process and ensure your transaction proceeds as smoothly as possible.

If you have any questions about these upcoming changes or would like to know what they may mean for your next property transaction, please don't hesitate to contact the friendly team at Umbrella Realty.